Englands Parliamentary Chronicle, Chronicle · Letter 23 – Letter 24
To the Honourable William Lenthall Eſquire, Speaker to the Houſe of Commons.
SIR,
I Writ to you formerly, of the late Battaile with Goring, and of the taking of Lang-port and Burrough, two Garriſons of the Enemy; ſince which time, the Army hath blocked up Bridgewater, in nature of a ſiege, and yet have refreſhed themſelves, being neceſſitated to lie ſtill (if no Enemy had been neer) till our money came up, which arrived here on Wedneſday; and the Army, Horſe and Foot, being Muſtered, were paid on Friday and Saturday, the reſt this day. But Action being moſt proper for this Army, in order to ſettling the peace of this Kingdom; the Generall in purſuance of his firſt opinion moved again to ſtorm the Town (for that hee was certainly informed they had Victualls, and would bee a work of time to gain it) It was unanimouſly (at laſt) agreed unto, that is, to ſtorm it, this morning about two of the clock. Yeſterday being the Lords day, Mr. Peters in the forenoon, and Mr. Bolls in the afternoon applyed themſelves to the encouragement of the Souldiers on any deſign they went about, to look upon Chriſt in all their actions, and to bee valiant in his Cauſe; and about 7 at night our Foot being drawn out, and thoſe that commanded the Storm, and Forlorn, Maſter Peters (in the field) gave them an exhortation to doe their duties, and God enabled them accordingly: For this morning, July 21. about two a clock, the Generals Regiment began the ſtorm, being ſeconded by others, and gave not over till they were atop of the Works with their Colours, and gained the peices that plaid upon them, and let down the Bridge▪ whereupon Captain Reynolds, a valiant young Gentleman, entred with a Forlorn-Hope of horſe, ſcoured the Streets, and beat them out of the hither Town into the further (our Pikes ſtanding bravely to the horſe.) This poſſeſſed the Enemy with that fear, being much perplexed at our taking the hither Town, and 500 priſoners that were part of thoſe that maintained the hither Workes: That the Enemy for the moſt part quitted the Line on the other ſide, where wee were in hope the other part of our Force had ſtormed the Town, and entred; but they only gave an hot alarm while wee ſtormed (it ſeems being not then ready for it (though the time agreed on) ſo wee loſt the carrying the whole Town this time: The priſoners being brought to the Church, above 500 in all, with Officers; 2 Leivtenant Colonells, they aſſured they wanted not Ammunition, nor Victuals, only meat for Horſes and Cattle; wee loſt not 20 men in the ſtorm, though in mans judgement, ſuch was the fierceneſſe of it for an houre, one would not think leſſe than a 1000 could bee ſlain; It was dark, and it ſo pleaſed God that they ſhot over for the moſt part. There was not one Officer of note ſlain, though many in perſon led on their men, and did gallantly, as Leivtenant Colonell Jackson, Leivtenant Colonell to the Generall, and Colonell Hewſon of Colonell Pickerings Regiment. The Enemy being ſtill hardned in heart, was ſo far from yeelding, that with Granadoes and other things, they fired that part of the Town wee were in, and hardly left 3 houſes ſtanding: this much in…aged our men to ſee their villany, and the Generall not a little troubled to ſee a Town deſtroyed, ſummoned it once more, ſending his Trumpet about 5 in the evening, they within were ſo peremptory, that they would not ſo much as offer to come to a treaty, whereupon the Generall commanded the Town to bee ſtormed on the other ſide, the morrow morning.
July 22. Tueſday, at the dawning of the day the Generall (as the night before) in perſon gave order for the forces on this ſide, to give a fierce alarm with great and ſmall ſhot, while they on the other ſide fell on, which on our ſide was done with great reſolution, and but that the tide was up, wee might alone have gained the Town. They on the other ſide, again failing to fall on, only giving an alarm. God by his providence ſo ordering it that ſomething was wanting, and I hope in the Lord it was for the beſt, and for the preſervation of many a mans life. For this day, the hot alarm working nothing upon them, which indeed was almoſt a ſecond ſtorm, the Generall was enraged againſt them, and leſt the innocent ſhould ſuffer among the nocent, ſent a Trumpet to the Governour to let all women and children come out of the Town by 4 a clock this afternoon. And accordingly, the Lady Governeſſe, (one too guilty of the miſery of that place) the Lady Hawley, Miſtris Marre and divers others came out, this being done, our great Guns and Morter-peices, with fire-bals, hot Irons, &c. plaid againſt the Town, and inſtantly fired it in 3 places, the wind being great increaſed the fire, and all on a flame on a ſudden, ſuch a terrour it wrought upon them, that Tom Elliot came running out to the Generall for a parley. The Generall anſwered him, the Governour refuſed it the laſt night, and now that hee had brought this miſery on himſelf, the Generall would not admit of a Treaty, yet if hee would ſubmit to mercy hee ſhould have it, in the mean time till hee returned a ſpeedy and poſitive anſwer, if any Souldier in the Town offered to take off a ſlate on the houſe, or quench the fire, our Souldiers cryed the ceſſation ſhould bee void, and wee would take all advantages, this ſo amazed them that inſtantly they came out, and cryed mercy for the Lords ſake, ſo it was agreed on, and quarter they have for their lives, and have liberty to ſave the Town; but as thoſe lately come out ſay, the Towneſmen do not ſo faſt quench the fire, as the Souldiers within in deſpite of this Army, ſet it on fire in freſh places. I heard Sir John Hele, Mr. Speke, and other of the Commiſſioners ſay, there are about 40 peices of Ordnance, 40 hundred weight of Match, powder proportionable, victuals for 2000 ſouldiers for 4 Moneths; 500 wee took the other day, above 1000 yet within; Commanders, Reformadoes, Gentlemen, and fat Prieſts, its conceived above 200. Treaſure in Plate, rich Jewels, &c. conceived, and eſtimated to bee worth, at leaſt, an 100000 pound, but all wee feared would bee conſumed with the fire; The works of the Town, wee found to bee as ſtrong as any in England, the Moat was very deep, yet our foot moſt fearleſly waded through, all the bridges failing, but one, and ſo wee got over; It was alſo about 30 foot wide. This bearer ſaw the ſtorm, before hee came away, bee pleaſed Sir, to move for a reward for his paines.
July this 22. 1645. at 12 at night.
July 25. 1645.
ORdered by the Commons Aſſembled in Parliament, that this Letter concerning the taking of Bridgewater, bee forthwith Printed and publiſhed.
H. Elſynge Cler. Parl. D. Com.
There was taken in Bridgewater, as followeth; viz. Col. Windham, the Governour, Sir Hugh Windham, his ſon, Sir John Digbey, who (as it was reported) dyed in the Town, Sir Francis Courtney, Tho. Elliot, and 2 or 3 other Knights, 6 Colonells, 14 Leivtenant Colonells, and Sergeant Majors, 100 Captains, Leivtenants, and other Officers, 40 Gentlemen of note, 42 Peices of Ordnance, one of which was the Lord Generalls Warning-peice, taken in Cornwall, and another P. Ruperts pocket-piſtoll, 5000 Armes, 800 Horſe, 2000 Priſoners, 600 Oxen, 10 Load of Ammunition, 40 Tun of Match, all Gorings Carriages, bagge and baggage, a 100000 pounds worth of treaſure, 4 Moneths proviſion in the Town.
The Meſſenger that brought the news was called into the Houſe of Commons, and had 30 pound given him as a reward. The Enemy quitted 3 ſmall Garriſons neer Bridgewater upon the taking thereof. And that which yet more excellently and eminently ſweetens this great mercy unto us,A moſt exact & precious return of our Prayers. was, that it pleaſed the Lord, who is the only true God that heares prayers, that this great bleſſing was granted unto us, upon Tueſday, July the 22. which was a day ſet apart in London, in a ſpeciall manner to ſeek the Lord by prayer and humiliation, for this very thing, which, I ſay, the Lord gave in unto us on the ſame day wee ſought it, as a moſt certain and bleſſed return of Prayer. O, who (then) would not ſtill, and for ever, truſt ſuch a gracious God and benigne and bountifull Lord and Maſter?
And heer alſo I have fit opportunity to give my Reader one note more, touching this buſineſſe of Bridgewater, viz. That one Mr. Peters being ſent from thence by Sir Tho. One Mr. Peters preſented 3 Commiſſions to the Parliament, taken by Sir Tho. Fairfax in Bridgewater.Fairfax, our moſt renowned Generall, with his own Letter to the Parliament, for the confirmation of the truth of the premiſes, touching the ſtorming and winning of Bridgewater; Hee alſo brought with him 3 Commiſſions out of the Weſt, which hee then alſo preſented to the Houſe of Commons, The Contents of which were from the Prince, to one Mr. Philips, a Gentleman of that Country, to raiſe a Regiment of horſe, a Regiment of foot, and a Regiment of Dragoones; The Commiſſions were dated in January laſt.
There were likewiſe other papers from the ſaid Prince Charles, by which the whole deſign of the Clubmen was made manifeſt,The plot and deſign of the Clubmen diſcovered. and how they were drawn into a ſnare to fight againſt the Parliament, and to gather themſelves together in ſuch a mutinous manner, and into diſorderly bodies without any heads, till Commanders were ſent and ſet over them. But, as in part yee have heard, it pleaſed the Lord to fruſtrate their policies and to bring their miſcheif upon their own heads, apparently ſeen by the late comming in of the Sommerſetſhire Clubmen, to the aſſiſtance of our noble Generall Sir Thomas, and their late frequent galling of Gorings Army. But now to proceed.
See ſtill, good Reader, the admirable and unexhauſtible bounty of our good God; for, the taking of Bridgewater was not all the good news which this 26 day of July produced unto us; for, on the very ſame day, Sir Rowland Edgerton (who came with a Letter out of the North intimating the ſurrender of the ſtrong Caſtle of Pontefract) was alſo called into the Houſe of Commons, Pontefract Caſtle ſurrendred to the Parliament.to relate the manner of it, which hee did; and had thanks returned by the Houſe, for his ſpeciall ſervice and diligence in it. When hee came away our Souldiers had entred the Caſtle, wherein was exceeding great ſtore of treaſure, and much Ammunition. The particulars of the ſurrender of which ſaid Caſtle was thus related in a Letter, ſent from the Committee at York to the Parliament.
To the Honourable William Lenthall Eſquire, Speaker of the Houſe of Commons.
SIR,
VVEE thought fit the laſt week to ſummon Pontefract-Caſtle, which cauſed the Enemy to deſire a Treaty; Whereupon Colonell Waſtell, Col. Copley, Col. Overton, Col. Bright, or any three of them were authorized to treat; and this day it was agreed that the Caſtle ſhall bee delivered up to the uſe of the Parliament, to morrow at 8 of the clock in the morning, with all the things therein, ſave that the Officers were allowed to carry away what is properly their own, ſo that it exceed not what a cloak-bagge will contain; and the Souldiers to march to Newark, with 200 Muskets, and 200 Pikes. Wee conſented to ſo good conditions, becauſe the Plague was very hot in the Countrey, and eſpecially in that Town; of which ſome of our Souldiers are dead. Wee are alſo in Treaty with Scarborough, which wee hope ſhortly will bee reduced. Thus much wee thought fit to give you notice of, deſiring the Houſe may bee acquainted therewith, From
Your very affectionate Friends and humble Servants, Francis Pierrepont, Wilfrid Lawſon, Henry Cholmley. York the 20 of July 1645.
And upon the 28 inſtant, wee received moſt certain intelligence by Letters out of the North, of the happy ſurrender alſo of the ſtrong Caſtle of Scarborough, Scarborough Caſtle ſurrendred to the Parliament.]to that moſt valiant and brave Commander and loyall Patriot Colonell Boynton, who lay before it, as Commander in cheif of thoſe forces, ſince the deceaſe of that thrice noble and renowned Souldier and pious Cornelius, Sir John Meldrum. Which ſaid ſtrong Caſtle was ſurrendred on fair conditions. Viz. That Sir Hugh Cholmley, that wicked Apoſtate, ſhould march out with his forces to Newark, if hee pleaſed, or bee tranſported into Holland, which, indeed, hee deſired. In the Caſtle hee left great ſtore of Armes and Ammunition, and 25 peices of Ordnance.
And about the 29 of this inſtant July came certain intelligence to the Houſe of Commons in Parliament, by Letters from the Scottiſh Army at Ludbury in Wales; concerning the taking in of Cannon-Froom, a ſtrong and conſiderable Garriſon of the Enemies, which was taken by aſſault,Cannon Froom taken by our Brethren of Scotland. in which ſtorm at leaſt 70 of the Enemies were ſlain, and but 8 of the Scots and ſome 20 hurt: The Governour, Colonell Barnold, was therein taken priſoner (and mortally wounded in the fight) together with Captain Brisk, Captain Houk, and 30 other priſoners; and all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition therein ſeized on for the King and Parliament. And the Houſe of Commons had debate touching this and all the good ſervice of our loyall Brethren of Scotland, and Ordered that a Letter of Thanks ſhould bee ſent to the Earl of Leven, ſigned by Mr. Speaker in acknowledgement of his faithfull Service for this Kingdom; and farther therefore Ordered that a Jewell of 500 pound ſhould bee with all covenient ſpeed ſent to the Earl of Leven, A jewel of 500 li. ſent by the Parliament to Generall Leven as a badge of honour to him.and bee beſtowed upon him as a badge of favour and reſpects from Both Houſes of Parliament, to his Excellency, for the unwearyed and faithfull ſervices ſince his comming over with the Scots Army into this Kingdom.
An excellent way, by gratitude to ſpurre on the ſpirits, and faſten the affections of our Souldiers to goe on in their fidelity and induſtry for the proſperous advance of the affaires of the Kingdom. And about the ſame time wee received certain aſſurance by Letters out of the Weſt, that the forces of that gallant Garriſon of Lyme had taken Chadwick-Houſe belonging to Count Arundell a great Papiſt,Chadwick houſe in the Weſt taken. a place that did much miſcheif and annoyance to thoſe parts, and lay within 6 miles of Lyme; There were above an 100 priſoners and their Armes taken in it, 30 horſe, 3 barrels of powder, and good ſtore of other proviſions and Ammunition.
Much alſo about the ſame time wee were certainly informed of the rendition and delivering up of Rabby Caſtle in Durham, Rabby Caſtle ſurrendred to the Parliament.upon faire and eaſie Articles or conditions; viz. The Officers to march away with their Armes to Newark (that cage of unclean birds,) and the common Souldiers, with their lives, only upon their legges, with ſticks in their hands. They left 300 good Armes behinde them, and good ſtore of powder and Ammunition.
And upon the 30 of this inſtant July, (to make this MonethMonth a moſt compleatly victorious MonethMonth,Bathe alſo ſurrendred into the Parliaments poſſeſſion, with the manner thereof. indeed) it pleaſed the Lord to deliver up alſo into the Parliaments happy poſſeſſion, the ſtrong Garriſon of the Town of Bathe; which was related in a Letter ſent from thence by an eminent Commander and actour in the ſame, which, for the Readers better content and full ſatisfaction, I have heer thought fit to inſert and impart, as it was Printed and publiſhed by authority, which was as followeth.